Clover-cutter.



PATENTED OCT. 13, 1903.

H. B. HUMPHREY.

CLOVER GUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. z, 190s.

N0 MODEL.

T/V ESSEE- af M@ UNITED1 STATES Patented October 13, 1903.

HARRY B. HUMPHREY, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

CLOVER- CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,246, dated October 13, 1903. Application iiled January 2, 1903. Serial No.\13'7,607.` (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it 1mi/y concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. HUMPHEEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clover-Cutters, of which the following is a speciiication. A

The object of my invention is the production of an improved machine for cutting clover hay or similar materials into pieces of a size suitable for feeding to poultry or stock.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clover-cutter embodying` the features of my invention, a portion of the supporting-legs being represented as broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section through said cutter. Fig. 3 is a fragmental view showing in side elevation l the means for securing in position the reversiblelstationaryknife. Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating the pivotal support for the upper feed-roller. Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view showing one ofl the connections between the framework and.

the removable cover.

In the construction of a clover-cutter embodying my improvements I provide a supportingeframe comprising two side plates 1 and 2, each having near one of its ends on its inner side an integral longitudinal rib 3. A bottom plate 4, having integral downwardlyextending side iianges 5, provided with slots 6, is secured between the side plates l and 2 by means of bolts 7, passing through said slots 6 into suitable openings in the side plates, said bottom plate lying just beneath the ribs 3. The bottom plate et is also provided with one or more openings 8 to receive bolts for securing the cutter to its supporting-legs 9. One end of the bottom plate 4 is slightly offset, forming a shoulder 10, against which the bottom of the feed-table 1l abuts, said table being secured to the bottom plate 4 by means of a bolt passing through the opening 12 in said bottom. plate.

A shaft v13, rotatably mounted in bearings 14: in each of the side plates l and 2, carries at one of its ends outside the side plate l a iiywheel 15, provided with a crank-handle 16 for turning said wheel and said shaft. Between the ily-wheel 15 and the side plate l the shaft I3 carries a pinion 17, for a purpose which will Vhereinafter appear. Intermediate the side plates l and 2 a feedroller 1S is rigidlyT fixed to the shaft 13, which roller is adapted to rotate in contact with a feedroller, to be hereinafter described. A ring 19, provided on its inner periphery with gear-teeth, is formed integral with or rigidly fixed upon the inner side of the fly-wheel l5, its gear-teeth being adapted to mesh with those of a gearwheel 20, rotatably mounted upon the end of a rod 2l, extending between the side plates l and 2 and serving to secure said plates with relation to each other. Mounted in bearings 22 in the side plates l and 2 is a shaft 23, having lixed upon one of its ends a pinion 2st, adapted to mesh with the gear-wheel 20, said shaft 23 carrying between the side plates l and 2 a cutter-head 25, having integral knives 26.

Near the bearing la each of the side plates has an opening 27, surrounded by aiiange 28, formed integral with its side plate upon the outer side thereof. Vithin these openings 27 a reversible stationary knife 29, having the cutting edges 30 and 31, is supported in operative contact with the knives 26 of the rotary cutter-head 25. In the wall of each opening 27 is formed a shoulder 32, against which said knife abuts at one of its sides. The longitudinally opposite side of the knife is supported by a set-screw 33, extending through a suitable Screw-threaded opening in the flange 2S, said knife being clamped against said shoulder 32 and set-screw 33 by means of a set-screw 34, extending through a suitable opening in said ilange. It will thus be seen that the position of the stationary knife 29 with relation to the cutter-head 25 may be readily adjusted by means of the set-screws 33 and 34:. When the cutting edge 30 becomes worn, the knife 29 may be withdrawn from the supporting-frame through the openings 27 and replaced therein with its cutting edge 3l in cutting position. The space between the upper edge of the stationary knife 29 'and-the feed-roller IS is occupied by a T- shaped bar 35,lying loosely within said space, but held from any considerable upward movement by the rib 36, formed in tegral with each of the side plates l and 2.

A shaft 37 is rotatably mounted in bearings 3S in the outer ends of two arms 39, the opposite end of each of said arms constituting a IOO hub 40, adapted to rotate upon the stud 41 of a bracket 42, secured to the outer side of each of the side plates 1 and 2 by means of a bolt 43, said stud 41 projecting through said hub into an opening 44 in the adjacent side plate. It will thus be seen that the arms 39 are adapted to have a pivotal movement upon land 2.

' gated feed-roller 47.

the studs 41, a curved slot 45 being` provided in each of the side plates 1 and 2 for the shaft 37. A shield 46, formed integral with the outer end ,of each of the arms 3S), closes the slots 45 when said arms are in their normal lower position. Between the side plates 1 and 2 the shaft 37 carries a fluted or corru- This feed-roller is held downward in contact with the feed-roller 18 by means of coil-springs 48, one of said springs extending between the outer end of each of the arms 39 and a lug 49, formed integral with each of the side platesl and 2, upon the outer sides of the latter, the lower end of said coil-spring being retained upon the arm 39 by means of a stud 50 on said arm entering said spring, and the upper end of the spring entering a recess in the under face of the lug 49. At one of its ends the shaft 37 carries a pinion 51, adapted to mesh with the pinion 17 on the power-shaft 13.

The upper portion of the framework is provided with a two-part cover comprising the portions 52 and 53, having integral side iianges 54 and 55, respectively, which flanges extend over the upper edges of the side plates 1 and 2. The portion 52 has at its lower end on each of its sides a projection 56, having a concave face adapted to engage a stud 57, formed integral with each of the side plates The upper end of the cover portion 52 bears at each of its sides an integral perforated ear 58, and adjacent to said ear each of the side plates has an integral slotted lug 59, through which ear and lug a bolt extends for securing the cover portion 52 in position upon the side plates 1 and 2. The upper end of the cover portion 52 is also provided on each of its sides with a recessed ear 61 and the adjacent end of the cover portion 53 with A curved screen 63 extends from the sta tionary knife 29 around the cutter-head 25 to the upper end of the cover portion 52, being held in position by means of said cover portion 52, the rod 21, and projections 64, formed integral with each of the side plates 1 and 2.

Two ribs 65, each formed integral with one of the side plates 1 and 2, support a plate 66, having a flange 67 at its upper end for engaging the ends of said ribs 65, said plate forming one wall of the discharge-opening 68.

In operation clover hay or any similar material is placed upon the feed-table 11 in contact with the feed-rollers 18 and 47. The power-shaft 13 is then rotated by means of the crank-handle 16, motion being imparted to the cutter-head 25 through the gear-ring 19,

the gear 20, and the pinion 24. The clover is drawn by the feed-rollers 18 and 47 into contact with the rapidly-revolving cutter-head 25, which cuts the clover into short pieces. These pieces, if of proper length, drop through the curved screen 63 and are driven out of the discharge-opening 68 by the air-current created by the revolving cutter-head. If, however, the clover has passed the cutterhead without being reduced to pieces of suitable size, it falls between the screen and the cutter-head and is carried by the air-current around to the feed side of the cutter-head, where it is again subjected to the action of the cutting-knives. By reason of its pivotal support the feed-roller 47 adjusts itself tov any unusual thickness of the material passing between the feed-rollers.

It is clear that many changes might be made from the construction herein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, Wherefore I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein illustrated and described.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a clover-cutter, in combination, a supporting-frame; feed-rollers rotatably mounted in said frame; a rotary cutter-head; a coacting stationary knife; and a curved screen extending for a portion of its length in `proximity to said cutter-head.

2. In a clover-cutter, in combination, a sup- IOT',

porting-frame having two openings therein;

a rotary cutter-head; a coacting stationary knife adjustably securedat its ends in the openings in said supporting-frame feed-rollers rotatably mounted in the supportingframe; and a curved screen extending for a portion of its length in proximity to said cutter-head to direct the coarse particles of the substance being operated upon by the mechanism to the cutting-knife, to which such particles are carried by the current of air created by the rotation of the cutter-head.

3. In a clover-cutter, in combination, two side plates; a bottom plate secured to said side plates at one end of said side plates; a rod for securing together the opposite end of said side plates; a two-part cover for the upper portion of said side plates, one of said parts being pivotally mounted with relation to the other; feed-rollers rotatably mounted in said side plates; a rotary cutter-head; a stationary knife; and a screen at the rear of said cutter-head.

4. In a clover-cutter, in combination, two side plates, each provided with an elongated slot; two brackets, each secured to one of said side plates and provided with a stud; two arms, each pivotally mounted at one of its ends upon the stud of one of said brackets; a shaft rotatably mounted in the opposite ends of said arms; a feed-roller on said shaft; a second feed-roller rotatably mounted in stationary bearings; a rotary cutter-head; and a stationary knife.

IIO

5. In a clover-cutter, in Combination, two rotary outter-l1ead a stationary knife; and side plates; a feed-roller rotatably mounted a curved screen extending for a -portion of :o in said side plates; tWo arms pivotally l its length in proximity to said cutter-head. mounted with relation to said side plates; a 1 T feed-roller rotatably supported in the free HARRX B' HUMPHREY ends of said arms; a spring for each of said arms, for holding the last-mentioned feedroller n Contact with the other feed-roller; a

Witnesses:

L. L. MILLER, GEORGE L. CHINDAHL. 

